She will get her choice of one of six books. The rest of the books will go back into the pot for the next weekend wondering.

Thanks so much to all who participated. I really enjoyed reading your responses. So many of you mentioned books and authors I had forgot about, so it was really great. Please know I read each and every response.

So onto this weekend. We all know it the magical/hated (depends on your view) Valentine's Day. For me it really isn't a big deal. I'm married and I tend to celebrate our anniversary more, but DH and I will be childless for the evening and I look forward to going out to eat with him. But cards and flowers aren't expected. And I will freely admit I am looking more forward to Daytona on Valentine's Day anyway. I'm a huge racing fan and look forward to the start of the new season. Anyone else a fan?

Okay on to the bookish things - Romance.

I started reading romance as a teenager. Silhouette use to have a line of romance for teenagers in the late 80s - something like Silhouette first romance. I read every one of those I could get my hands on. I don't remember anything about them now, but I did read them.

I think I got away from the romance genre in college and headed more towards thrillers/suspense/horror. Then I came back to my first love after I got married and my sister-in-law introduced me to Nora Roberts. Yes I had heard of her, but I had not read her yet. My SIL gave me Carolina Moon to read and I was in total love. Here was an author who mixed romance and suspense - it couldn't get any better than that.

Then I found the internet and found out how many other great authors are out there. Linda Howard, Sandra Brown, Susan Mallery, Robin Carr, Sheryl Woods and so many more. I read all I could get my hands on. I even found I loved Harlequin Blaze books and had a subscription for awhile.

I loved romance in any form I could get it and I still do. I don't read as much of it as I use to but I fit it in from time-to-time and every time I come back to it I remember how much I love it. I have very rarely been disappointed with a romance book, but then again I freely admit I am not horribly picky with my books.

Themes - this is my question for the week - what themes/plots do you like best in your romances? Do you like friends to lovers, hidden pregnancy, tortured heroes, paranormal, romantic suspense, take this one anywhere you want. Just tell me what kind of romance book you like to read if you like to read them and one of your all-time favorites. If you don't read them, tell me why, I'm interested.

As for me, I think I have learned I really like the friends into lovers books. One of my favorites that comes to mind was Kristin Higgins' Just One of the Guys - an excellent romance in my opinion.

So for Valentine's Day this year try to fit in a romance - you may love it, it may make you happy, just try it out. :)

***** Giveaway *****

Comment and answer my question from above on what kind of romance you like and your all-time favorite romance read and you can have a shot at winning any two of the books shown below. Open to US/Canada only. Giveaway runs through 2/19/10 and I will post the winner in the next weekend wondering post. Additional entries for tweeting and getting the word out about this giveaway (blog posts/sidebar work too). Also note if you are a follower and how you follow and there will be extra entries for that as well - I'm still trying to work my way to 200 blogger followers.

Please note books have been read - they are in good shape, but they are not brand new.

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comments:

I really love paranormal romance. That's pretty much what I read in the romance genre unless it's a YA book or something. I think it's just more fun and exciting and isn't ALL about the romance b/c that can be boring after awhile.

Any chance (if you haven't yet) you could check out this post and enter the giveaway? It would mean a TON for my family (full details there):

I like suspense romance and also really enjoy a bit of paranormal suspense. I was another who consumed romance novels as a teen (but mine was historical romance at the time). I think my all time favorite romance book is Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher. I have read it at least three times over teh years and refuse to lend it out. Funny thing is that I have noticed that a lot of straight up romance authors from teh late 80's now do suspense romance and I LOVE that! Thanks for teh chance to win!

I love historical romance the most - something about the gowns, and most times the women find true soul matey love (ahh the innocence of youth!)I do not have a favorite story, but the last book that was so good I ran out to buy more by the same author was "Duchess by Night" by Eloisa James (of course they didn't measure up, so I try to just take them as they come instead of expecting the same brilliance with every book! Thank you for the giveaway!gibbylet(at)gmail(dot)com

I love romance too, though I'm very new to romance novels in particular. My ideal theme would be where the guy and girl were childhood friends torn apart by external circumstances and always wish to meet again and finally do years later. It would be even better if one of them didn't recognize the other and much agony ensued! I also like when the hero and heroine are enemies at first or hiding enormous, painful secrets from each other.

Needless to say I love tortured characters though I want them to be happy in the end.

I'm way too picky when it comes to novels. I can read and enjoy them but to truly love them I have to be able to connect just right with the characters which is not an easy feat unfortunately. One of the few that managed to really hook me is "The Viscount Who Loved Me" by Julia Quinn. I loved every minute.

I am follower via Google Friend Connect, name is Bani.

I retweeted using the green button. For some reason I can't find the link so I just tweeted again the old-fashioned way. :D http://twitter.com/baniclips/status/9098051064

My experience was like yours.....I love contemporary romance and romance suspense. Sandra Brown, Susan Mallery, Harlequin Presents and Desire authors I enjoy. And then there is Roxanne St. Claire and Linda Francis Lee and so many more.

I currently love paranormal romance because of the larger than life dramas BUT my all time favorite read is Seduced by Virginia Henley; A young girl impersonates her twin brother and is taught how to be a man by a family friend. A story of deception and adventure that travels the raging seas!

Thanks for hosting a great giveaway! I love Nora Robert's trilogies like the trio about the brothers who adopt the little boy, or the friends who search for treasure. I like to read romances in a series, not just one short book where you fall in love with the characters and then it's over...

I love all romance but historical and suspense are my favorites. For historical I think I like the bluestocking girl taming a rakish guy...with some mystery thrown in as a plus! Hard to pick a favorite book...two favorite authors though: Catherine Coulter and Jude Devereaux; but then Christina Dodd and Merline Lovelace... and the list goes on! Thanks for an interesting giveaway and good luck hitting that 200!! mesreadsATgmailDOTcom